76 Stephen Hawking Trivia Questions with Answers
76 public questions with answers, drawn from the well. How many can you answer?
Stephen Hawking trivia spans theoretical physics, cosmology, black holes, academic life, and the public work that made him one of science's most recognizable figures. Questions explore Hawking's black hole area theorem, the initiative he helped launch to search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and the famous information-loss bet involving Kip Thorne and John Preskill.
The collection also reaches into Hawking's personal and professional history, including his studies at Cambridge, his visiting professorship at Caltech, and his marriage to nurse Elaine Mason. It suits science students, astronomy enthusiasts, classroom review sessions, documentary fans, and quiz teams. The questions range from accessible biography to concepts involving time travel, black hole thermodynamics, and modern cosmology.
Which 2015 initiative to search for extraterrestrial intelligence did Stephen Hawking help launch?
Answer
Breakthrough Listen
Which nurse became Stephen Hawking's second wife in 1995?
Answer
Elaine Mason
At which Cambridge college did Hawking begin graduate work in 1962?
Answer
Trinity Hall
Which conjecture did Stephen Hawking propose about laws preventing time travel?
Answer
Chronology protection conjecture
The Gibbons-Hawking effect is named for Stephen Hawking and which physicist?
Answer
Gary Gibbons
What was the title of Stephen Hawking's 1966 Adams Prize essay?
Answer
Singularities and the Geometry of Space-Time
Which actor played Stephen Hawking in the 2004 BBC television film 'Hawking'?
Answer
Benedict Cumberbatch
Who co-authored 'A Briefer History of Time' with Stephen Hawking?
Answer
Leonard Mlodinow
Which 1975 medal is listed among Stephen Hawking's awards?
Answer
Eddington Medal
Stephen Hawking's father was a medical researcher specializing in what?
Answer
tropical diseases
Which London school did Stephen Hawking attend at the start of his education?
Answer
Byron House School
What is the title of Stephen Hawking's 2013 memoir?
Answer
My Brief History
What was the name of Stephen Hawking's adopted brother?
Answer
Edward Hawking
In which episode of 'The Simpsons' did Stephen Hawking make his first appearance?
Answer
They Saved Lisa's Brain
At which Cambridge college was Stephen Hawking a fellow?
Answer
Gonville and Caius College
Where was Stephen Hawking's memorial service held?
Answer
Westminster Abbey
Which actor portrayed Stephen Hawking in the 2014 film 'The Theory of Everything'?
Answer
Eddie Redmayne
What was the name of the school Stephen Hawking attended?
Answer
St Albans School
What is the name of Stephen Hawking's younger sister?
Answer
Mary Hawking
What was the name of the posthumous book by Stephen Hawking published in 2018?
Answer
Brief Answers to the Big Questions
What is the name of Stephen Hawking's youngest child?
Answer
Timothy Hawking
What is the name of the 'The Big Bang Theory' episode featuring Stephen Hawking?
Answer
The Hawking Excitation
What degree classification did Stephen Hawking achieve at Oxford?
Answer
First-class BA in Physics
What is the title of the first children's book co-authored by Stephen Hawking and his daughter?
Answer
George's Secret Key to the Universe
What is the title of Stephen Hawking's 2001 popular science book?
Answer
The Universe in a Nutshell
Which university did Stephen Hawking attend for his undergraduate degree?
Answer
University of Oxford
What is the name of Stephen Hawking's eldest son?
Answer
Robert Hawking
What was the title of Stephen Hawking's posthumous 2018 paper co-authored with Thomas Hertog?
Answer
A Smooth Exit from Eternal Inflation?
What is the name of the theory proposed by Hawking and James Hartle?
Answer
No-boundary proposal
What is the name of the paradox regarding information loss in black holes?
Answer
black hole information paradox
In which city did Stephen Hawking live for most of his adult life?
Answer
Cambridge
Where are Stephen Hawking's ashes interred?
Answer
Westminster Abbey
What is the asteroid named after Stephen Hawking?
Answer
7672 Hawking
What name is given to the singularity theorems Hawking proved with Roger Penrose?
Answer
Penrose-Hawking singularity theorems
What is the title of the 2014 biographical film about Stephen Hawking?
Answer
The Theory of Everything
Stephen Hawking trivia — quick answers
What are good Stephen Hawking trivia questions?
Good Stephen Hawking trivia questions cover black holes, cosmology, universities, scientific collaborators, books, and major public initiatives. Examples include asking what area his theorem concerns, who opposed him in the black hole information bet, or which search-for-intelligence project he helped launch.
How hard is Stephen Hawking trivia?
Stephen Hawking trivia ranges from accessible biography to advanced science. Questions about his books, Cambridge career, and marriages are suitable for general audiences, while black hole thermodynamics, the Gibbons-Hawking effect, and information-loss debates are better suited to science-focused players.
What does Hawking's black hole area theorem state?
Hawking's black hole area theorem states that the total area of a black hole's event horizon cannot decrease in classical general relativity. The result resembles the second law of thermodynamics and helped inspire later connections between black hole mechanics, entropy, and quantum theory.
What was the Thorne-Hawking-Preskill bet?
The Thorne-Hawking-Preskill bet concerned whether information is permanently lost when it falls into a black hole. Stephen Hawking and Kip Thorne initially supported information loss, while John Preskill argued that information must be recoverable. Hawking later conceded that information could escape in principle.
What was Breakthrough Listen?
Breakthrough Listen is a major scientific initiative to search for signs of intelligent life beyond Earth. Stephen Hawking helped launch it in 2015 alongside Yuri Milner and other scientists. The project uses powerful radio and optical telescopes to examine nearby stars and galaxies for artificial signals.